In the face of declining state resources, some states have reengineered the way state financial aid is allocated, resulting in shifts in eligibility requirements, reduced awards, and technical changes that present barriers for nontraditional students. The marginalizing impact of these restrictions creates a barrier to college access and success for a majority of college students, hindering states’ long-term goals for increasing college completion and skill development across their populations. Current policies also contribute to rising levels of unmet financial need (the gap between what college costs and what students have to pay).
It’s not just students who are impacted; financial aid policies have implications for all of us. Today’s economy increasingly requires workers to attain more skills and credentials. Over 95 percent of jobs created since the 2010 economic recovery have gone to people with at least some level of college education. By 2020, approximately two-thirds of all jobs will require a postsecondary credential. Financial aid reform is both an equity and economic imperative for states’ futures.
The report builds on previous research and current trends to identify four cornerstones of an effective state aid program:
Using this framework, the report highlights promising state financial aid programs and current state program gaps and offers principles to reshape policies and target investments to better serve nontraditional students.